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Redding Municipal Code Section 18.43.020 regulates residential accessory structures. One-story sheds up to 120 sq ft are permit-exempt, and lots are limited to two detached structures totaling no more than 1,500 sq ft without a Site Development Permit.
Under Cal. Gov. Code §66322 (formerly §65852.2(f)(3)), ADUs under 750 sq ft are exempt from all local impact fees. ADUs of 750 sq ft or larger may only be charged impact fees proportional to the primary dwelling's square footage.
Redding Municipal Code Section 18.43.140 implements California Government Code §§66310-66339 (formerly §65852.2). ADUs are ministerial in any single-family or multifamily zone, with state-default 800 sq ft detached size and 500 sq ft JADUs.
Redding does not have a stand-alone amplified-sound permit chapter. Amplified music is covered by the general nuisance rule in RMC 18.40.100(B) plus the Schedule 18.40.100-A decibel table. Permitted outdoor events, parades, and public gatherings issued a City permit are exempt under RMC 18.40.100(H)(2).
Redding does not impose a single citywide curfew. Section 18.40.100(B) of the Redding Municipal Code makes it unlawful to willfully or negligently make any loud, unnecessary, or unusual noise that disturbs the peace and quiet of any neighborhood, 24 hours a day. A measurable nighttime cap applies after 10:00 p.m.
Animal noise in Redding is regulated under RMC Title 7 Chapter 7.04 (General Provisions, Animals), not under the noise chapter. RMC 7.04.090 makes it a nuisance to keep an animal whose barking, howling, or other noise unreasonably disturbs persons living in two or more separate households. Enforcement is by Haven Humane Society under contract with the City.
RMC 18.40.100(F)(3) restricts domestic power tools - including leaf blowers and lawn and garden equipment - across residential or commercial property lines. Use is prohibited 10:00 p.m. to 7:00 a.m. on weekdays and 9:00 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. on weekends and legal holidays. Redding has no outright gas-blower ban.
Industrial uses in Redding are not subject to a fixed dB cap within their own districts but must meet the receiving-property standards at the property line of any nonindustrial district. RMC 18.40.100 Schedule 18.40.100-A measures industrial noise at the nearest residential, office, or commercial boundary, where the same 45/55/65 dB(A) Leq caps apply.
RMC 18.40.100(F)(2) sets seasonal construction-hour windows for work within 500 feet of a residential district. Weekday allowable hours run roughly sunrise to early evening, with tighter limits on weekends and holidays and a longer permitted day during the May-September period.
Aircraft-in-flight noise is preempted by federal law under 49 U.S.C. 41713 and is excluded from Redding's noise chapter by RMC 18.40.100(I). Redding Regional Airport (RDD/KRDD) and Benton Field publish voluntary noise-abatement guidance asking pilots to avoid overflying residential areas, but neither airport has a mandatory curfew.
Vehicle-in-traffic noise in Redding is governed by the California Vehicle Code, not by local ordinance. CVC 27150 requires every vehicle to have an adequate muffler in constant operation and prohibits cutouts or bypasses; CVC 27151 caps modified exhaust at 95 dB(A) measured per SAE J1169. Stationary loud audio is also reachable under RMC 18.40.100(B).
Redding regulates short-term rentals under Redding Municipal Code (RMC) Section 18.43.180. The ordinance recognizes two categories: a Hosted Homestay (owner-occupied dwelling renting individual rooms, processed by a Hosted Homestay Affidavit) and a Vacation Rental (an entire single-family dwelling rented for under 30 days, processed by a Site Development Permit). New vacation rentals cannot be located within 600 feet of an existing approved vacation rental.
Redding short-term rental hosts are responsible for guest noise under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.32 (the citywide noise ordinance) and the operating standards of RMC 18.43.180. The STR ordinance requires every Hosted Homestay or Vacation Rental to designate a local site manager who can respond to a complaint within 45 minutes; documented disturbances are grounds for Site Development Permit revocation.
Redding Municipal Code 18.43.180 requires every short-term rental listing to disclose the number of permitted on-site parking spaces in the advertisement. Off-street parking must satisfy the underlying single-family or multi-family parking standard in RMC Chapter 18.41 (typically two spaces per single-family dwelling). The June 17, 2025 amendment exempts legally nonconforming apartment conversions in the Downtown Mixed Use District from adding new off-street parking.
Redding short-term rentals collect a 10% Transient Occupancy Tax under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 4.12 plus a 2% Tourism Marketing Business Improvement District assessment (Resolution 2015-066) for a combined 12% on every stay under 30 days. RMC 18.43.180 requires every host to open a TOT account with the Redding Finance Department before listing. Returns are filed periodically with the Finance Department; Airbnb has a city collection agreement but the host remains liable for accuracy.
Redding caps short-term rental occupancy at two persons per rented bedroom under RMC 18.43.180. A vacation rental cannot be rented to multiple separate parties at the same time. The ordinance also limits vacation rentals to 180 rental-days per calendar year. Children typically count toward the per-bedroom cap, with infants commonly excluded.
Redding Municipal Code 18.43.180 does not mandate a specific minimum liability insurance policy for short-term rental operators, and California has no statewide STR insurance minimum. Hosts rely on platform-provided coverage (Airbnb AirCover up to $1,000,000 liability; VRBO Liability Insurance up to $1,000,000) plus their own homeowner's or commercial dwelling policy. Standard California HO-3 homeowner's policies exclude business pursuits.
Open burning of vegetation, yard waste, or rubbish inside Redding city limits is generally prohibited under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.36 and the California Fire Code adopted through Title 16. Any burning in unincorporated Shasta County requires a CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit burn permit, must be on a declared burn day by Shasta County Air Quality Management District, and is suspended during fire-season closures and Red Flag Warnings.
Redding property owners must maintain 100 feet of defensible space around every habitable structure under California Public Resources Code Section 4291 (State Responsibility Area) and Government Code Section 51182 (Local Responsibility Area Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zone). Vegetation management is also enforced through Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.36 (Weed and Rubbish Abatement). The Redding Fire Department conducts annual defensible-space inspections.
Propane storage in Redding follows California Fire Code Chapter 61, adopted through Title 16 of the Redding Municipal Code. Residential containers under 125 gallons water capacity (typical 20-pound BBQ tanks up through 100-pound cylinders) have no minimum setback when CFC Section 6104.3 installation conditions are met; containers 125 to 500 gallons require a 10-foot separation from buildings, property lines, and public ways.
Redding adopts the California Fire Code through Title 16 of the Redding Municipal Code. Under California Fire Code Section 307.4.2, recreational fires are limited to 3 feet in diameter and 2 feet in height, with a 25-foot setback from any structure or combustible material. Recreational burning is also subject to Shasta County Air Quality Management District daily burn-day status and CAL FIRE Shasta-Trinity Unit declared fire-season restrictions.
Large portions of Redding — particularly west of Interstate 5, around Lake Redding, Mary Lake, Buckeye, and the Sacramento River canyon — are mapped as Local Responsibility Area Very High, High, or Moderate Fire Hazard Severity Zones in the State Fire Marshal's February 24, 2025 update. The City was required to designate the zones by ordinance within 120 days. Designation triggers 100-foot defensible space, California Building Code Chapter 7A wildland-urban-interface construction standards, and Natural Hazard Disclosure at sale.
All fireworks of every kind — including state-approved Safe and Sane fireworks — are illegal in the City of Redding under Chapter 9.20 of the Redding Municipal Code. The same prohibition extends across all of unincorporated Shasta County under Shasta County Code Chapter 8.12. Anyone who discharges fireworks that start a fire is liable for the full cost of suppression under California Health & Safety Code Section 13009.
Commercial vehicle parking in Redding is governed by Redding Municipal Code Chapter 11.24 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) on top of the California Vehicle Code. The state-law baseline under CVC §22507.5 authorizes cities to prohibit parking of commercial vehicles over 10,000 pounds in residential districts between 2:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. via signed restrictions. Active loading and delivery activity is exempt from most local restrictions, but long-term storage of commercial vehicles on residential streets is not permitted.
Driveway design, curb cuts, and off-street parking in Redding are governed by Redding Municipal Code Chapter 18.41 (Off-Street Parking and Loading) of the Zoning Ordinance, with on-street curb-cut/encroachment work permitted through Public Works. All required off-street parking spaces and access driveways must be surfaced with concrete, asphaltic concrete, or another approved permanent material. Parking on unimproved surfaces in the front yard is a zoning violation.
Redding adopts the California Building Standards Code and the California Green Building Standards Code (CALGreen) under Redding Municipal Code Title 16. New one- and two-family residences must install at least one EV-ready parking space (40-amp, 208/240-volt branch circuit) under CALGreen §A4.106.8 / §4.106.4 as adopted in California. Installation of Level 2 home chargers requires an electrical permit through Redding Development Services. HOAs cannot prohibit owner EVSE under California Civil Code §4745.
Redding prohibits parking of recreational vehicles, motorhomes, camping trailers, toy haulers, boats, and trailers anywhere in the front yard setback of a residence — including the driveway in front of a front-facing garage — under the Redding Municipal Code Title 18 Zoning Ordinance. Living in an RV on private property, running a generator, and connecting electric, water, or sewer hookups outside an approved RV park are also prohibited. The Development Services Director may grant a zoning exception under RMC Chapter 18.15 to allow one RV in the front or street side-yard setback.
On-street parking in Redding is governed by Redding Municipal Code Chapter 11.24 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) together with the California Vehicle Code. The City does not impose a citywide overnight ban on residential streets, but standard prohibitions apply: no parking in marked red, yellow, white, or blue zones, no blocking driveways or fire hydrants, no parking on sidewalks or against traffic, and no parking for more than 72 consecutive hours. Downtown Redding has a managed parking program operated through Parking and Transportation.
Redding does not impose a citywide overnight parking ban on passenger vehicles. On most residential streets, vehicles may park overnight provided they do not remain in one place for more than 72 consecutive hours under California Vehicle Code §22651(k). Designated residential permit-parking areas (RMC §11.24.340), downtown short-term zones, and signed time-limited blocks impose additional restrictions. Heavy commercial vehicles over 10,000 lbs may be subject to a posted overnight restriction under CVC §22507.5.
Abandoned and inoperable vehicles in Redding are handled under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 11.24 (Stopping, Standing and Parking) and the City's nuisance-abatement framework, with state authority drawn from California Vehicle Code §§22651, 22669, 22660–22671, and California Health & Safety Code §40050 et seq. (Abandoned Vehicle Abatement). Vehicles parked on public streets more than 72 consecutive hours may be towed under CVC §22651(k); wrecked or inoperable vehicles on private property visible from the public way are abated as a public nuisance.
Dogs in Redding must be restrained on private property and on a leash when off the owner's property, under Title 7 of the Redding Municipal Code as enforced by Haven Humane Society under contract with the City. All dogs four months and older that live in Shasta County (including in Redding) must be licensed and currently vaccinated against rabies, per the Shasta County rabies-control framework administered by Haven Humane Society at 7449 Eastside Road, Anderson, CA.
Redding does not have a dedicated wildlife-feeding ordinance, but feeding wildlife in ways that draw nuisance conditions is reachable under Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(G) (unsanitary conditions). The principal restriction is at the state level: 14 CCR Section 251.3, issued by the California Fish and Game Commission, prohibits the intentional feeding of big game mammals (deer, elk, antelope, mountain lion, wild pig, and bear) anywhere in California. California Fish and Game Code Sections 251.1 and 4150 separately prohibit harassment of wildlife and possession of certain mammals.
Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040 allows hen chickens on residential lots in any residential zoning district, with up to six (6) hens over three (3) months old permitted on lots up to 19,999 square feet. Roosters over three months are prohibited. Larger livestock (horses, cattle, goats, sheep, pigs) are allowed only in rural residential districts (RL, RE, RS) and require a minimum 40,000 square foot parcel. All animal enclosures must meet setback requirements measured from property lines and neighboring residences.
Redding does not have a breed-specific dog ordinance and cannot enact one. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 31683 expressly preempts local breed bans — cities and counties may not adopt dog-control ordinances that are specific to any breed. Redding may regulate dangerous behavior on an individual-dog basis under the state dangerous and vicious dog statutes at Food & Ag Code Sections 31601-31683, but no breed (including pit bulls, Rottweilers, and German shepherds) may be singled out for prohibition or numerical restriction.
Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(I) provides that the keeping of exotic or wild animals may be permitted only subject to issuance of a site development permit and any required California Fish and Wildlife permits. California Code of Regulations Title 14 Section 671 separately classifies a wide range of species as restricted and requires a permit from the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) before they may be imported, transported, or possessed in California — many common exotics (ferrets, hedgehogs, many primates, large carnivores) are prohibited or restricted under state law.
Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040 expressly contemplates that hen chickens and bees may be allowed within urban environments to the extent that they do not constitute a nuisance to neighboring properties. The Zoning Ordinance does not set explicit hive numerical caps, but bees fall under the general animal-keeping setback and sanitation rules and remain subject to nuisance enforcement. California Food and Agricultural Code Section 29040 requires every person owning or in possession of an apiary located in California to register with the County Agricultural Commissioner annually by January 1.
Redding does not impose an absolute numerical cap on the number of dogs or cats per household. Title 7 of the Redding Municipal Code regulates licensing, vaccination, and behavior rather than count, and Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(A) treats cats, dogs, pot-bellied pigs, and other household pets as a permitted noncommercial use under Title 7. Pet keeping that produces unsanitary conditions, odor, or nuisance — regardless of count — is independently citable under Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(G).
Redding does not have a dedicated animal-hoarding ordinance but addresses hoarding through (1) Zoning Ordinance Section 18.43.040(G), which prohibits keeping animals in unsanitary conditions producing odor, fecal accumulation, insect infestation, or rodent attractants disturbing neighbors; (2) Title 7 of the Municipal Code as enforced by Haven Humane Animal Regulation Officers; and (3) California Penal Code Section 597 (cruelty to animals), which is the principal criminal statute used statewide against neglect and hoarding situations.
Trimming a tree on private property in Redding generally does not require a City permit so long as the work does not effectively kill the tree or breach the City's tree-management rules (RMC Chapter 18.45). Street trees in the public right-of-way are governed by RMC Title 13, Chapter 13.40 (Trees and Shrubs), administered by Public Works. Redding Electric Utility (REU) prunes for line clearance per Public Utilities Commission and CPUC General Order 95 standards. California common-law self-help allows trimming a neighbor's overhanging branches up to the property line.
The Redding Water Utility currently operates at Stage 1 - Year-Round Conservation, which is voluntary, with an odd/even outdoor watering schedule and prohibitions on hosing hardscapes or irrigating within 48 hours of rainfall. Higher-stage mandatory restrictions are codified in the Water Shortage Contingency Plan (RMC Chapter 14.09) referenced through RMC Chapter 14.08 (Water). California Water Code §365 et seq. and statewide State Water Resources Control Board emergency drought regulations layer additional restrictions during declared drought.
Redding regulates overgrown grass and weeds primarily as a fire-hazard and public-nuisance issue rather than under a fixed-inch lawn-height standard. The City Code Enforcement program (Development Services) and the Redding Fire Department address tall grass and weeds on improved and vacant parcels, layered on top of California Public Resources Code §4291's 100-foot defensible-space mandate that applies to properties in or adjacent to State Responsibility Area and Local Responsibility Area fire-hazard zones around Redding.
Tree removal in the City of Redding is regulated by Chapter 18.45 (Tree Management) of the Redding Municipal Code, originally adopted in 1990 and updated in 2006, with a 2023 Tree Management Ordinance Update Committee process. No tree exceeding 6 inches diameter at breast height (DBH) on any developed or undeveloped/vacant parcel within the city may be destroyed, killed, or removed without a tree-removal permit, subject to limited exemptions (RMC §18.45.040) and discretionary-permit provisions (RMC §18.45.070).
Weed control in Redding is driven first and foremost by California fire law. Public Resources Code §4291 requires 100 feet of defensible space around any structure in or adjacent to a State Responsibility Area, with annual grasses mowed to about 4 inches. Redding lies within and adjacent to mapped Moderate, High, and Very High Fire Hazard Severity Zones (Cal Fire FHSZ maps, PRC §§4201-4204). The Shasta County Fire Safe Council and Redding Fire Department coordinate annual weed-abatement outreach and enforcement.
Since January 2024, all City of Redding residents are required by California Senate Bill 1383 (Lara, 2016; Public Resources Code §42652+) to separate food scraps, food-soiled paper, and yard trimmings into the City's Organics cart for collection by Recycling and Solid Waste. Backyard composting on private residential lots is permitted and encouraged. Open burning of yard waste is prohibited within Redding city limits and regulated by the Shasta County Air Quality Management District.
The City of Redding does not mandate native-plant landscaping on residential property. The City's Landscape Standards (RMC Chapter 18.47) and Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance — updated October 2024 to align with the 2025 state MWELO (23 CCR §490+) — favor low-water, climate-adapted species and limit irrigated turf on new and rehabilitated landscapes. The California Native Plant Society Shasta Chapter and the Shasta County Resource Conservation District provide free design and species guidance.
Government Code 65850.3 prevents California cities and HOAs from banning drought-tolerant artificial turf installed at single-family residential properties.
The 2012 Rainwater Capture Act allows California residents to capture rainwater from rooftops for non-potable outdoor use without a state water-right permit, preempting most local barriers.
Redding regulates fence and wall heights in the Zoning Code at Chapter 18.40 (Development and Site Regulations), with the walls-and-fences section at 18.40.180. Residential-district fences are generally limited to six feet in side and rear yards and lower in front yards, with corner-lot sight-triangle restrictions also applied. The California Building Code separately exempts fences seven feet or shorter from a state building permit when not within 10 feet of a public right-of-way, but the City zoning limit still controls.
Redding does not require a building permit for fences seven feet or shorter located at least 10 feet from a public right-of-way, per California Building Code §105.2 as adopted by the City. However, the local zoning rule in RMC §18.40.180 still controls placement, height, sight triangles, and materials - and any fence over 7 feet, or any retaining wall over 4 feet, requires a building permit issued through Development Services.
Redding's Zoning Code §18.40.180 governs allowed fence materials in residential and other districts, while RMC §18.51.040(D) outright prohibits fences and walls in the floodway or flood-fringe (except arterial street walls with openings to pass floodwaters). Specific bans on barbed wire, electric fences, or razor wire in residential districts are set in §18.40.180 and the adopted California Fire Code (CFC) - confirm specific material lists with the City Permit Center before installing.
Redding requires every outdoor residential pool to be enclosed by a permanent barrier at least 60 inches (5 feet) tall, with a maximum 2-inch bottom clearance, openings that cannot pass a 4-inch sphere, and self-closing/self-latching gates that swing away from the pool with latch hardware at least 60 inches above ground. The rules come from California Health & Safety Code §115921-115929 (the Swimming Pool Safety Act), California Building Code Appendix AX, and local provisions at RMC §18.40.160 / §18.43.02(C), as compiled in the City's published Residential Swimming Pools and Spas Homeowners Guide.
Redding's Zoning Code (RMC §18.40.180) regulates fence height, location, and materials, but private boundary-fence disputes are governed by California Civil Code §841 - the Good Neighbor Fence Act of 2013. Section 841 presumes adjoining landowners share equally the responsibility and cost of a partition fence and requires 30 days' written notice with cost estimate, scope, and timeline before building or repairing. Disputes are heard in Shasta County Superior Court, not at City Hall.
California Building Code under Title 24 universally requires permits and engineering for retaining walls over four feet measured from the bottom of the footing, applying statewide regardless of local variation.
Redding pool owners must comply with a stack of safety rules: (1) California Electrical Code §680.9 - overhead conductors must clear the pool by 22.5 feet (10 feet for phone/cable); (2) the federal Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. §8003) anti-entrapment drain covers; (3) Title 24 Part 6 energy rules for pool heaters; (4) indirect-type pool water discharge to a dry well or subsoil irrigation (no neighbor encroachment); and (5) a GFCI 125V outlet between 6 and 20 feet from the pool wall.
Redding requires a building permit to install any in-ground swimming pool, per the California Building Code as adopted by the City. Aboveground pre-fabricated pools no greater than 5,000 gallons and less than 24 inches deep are exempt from the building permit, but any pool of any size needs separate electrical and plumbing permits for pumps, heaters, and gas lines. Permits are issued through the Development Services Permit Center at 777 Cypress Avenue.
Redding pool owners must comply with two stacked requirements. First, an outdoor pool barrier per RMC and CBC Appendix AX: 60 inches tall, 4-inch sphere max opening, 2-inch bottom gap (4 inches if mounted on aboveground pool wall), self-closing/self-latching gate opening away from the pool. Second, the California Swimming Pool Safety Act (H&S Code §115922-115923) requires at least two of seven listed drowning-prevention safety features at new construction or remodel.
California's Swimming Pool Safety Act covers above-ground pools deeper than 18 inches, requiring uniform drowning-prevention features and barriers regardless of pool type.
Hot tubs and spas fall under California's Swimming Pool Safety Act when capable of holding water deeper than 18 inches, requiring barriers, covers, or other approved safety features.
Redding Municipal Code §18.43.110 allows home occupations in any residential zone if the business is incidental to the residential use, conducted entirely indoors, and produces no exterior evidence. A city business license and signed home occupation affidavit are required.
Redding Municipal Code §18.43.110 limits customer traffic so it doesn't change the residential character of the lot. No exterior evidence of the business is allowed, including outdoor display, storage, or commercial vehicle operations tied to the home occupation.
Under Redding Municipal Code §18.43.110, a home occupation is limited to a single on-site nonilluminated sign not exceeding four square feet. The sign must comply with Chapter 18.42 (Signs). The general prohibition on exterior evidence otherwise applies.
The California Homemade Food Act, codified at Health and Safety Code sections 113758 and 114365, sets uniform rules for cottage food operations and bars local governments from prohibiting them in residential zones.
Health and Safety Code sections 1597.40 through 1597.465 require all California cities and counties to treat licensed family daycare homes as permitted residential uses, preempting any local prohibition or restrictive zoning.
Loud parties in Redding are reached through two tracks. The noise-disturbance side runs through RMC 18.40.100 plus California Penal Code 415. The under-21 alcohol or controlled-substance side runs through the Social Host Ordinance, RMC Chapter 9.01 (Ord. 2537, eff. Dec. 18, 2015), which imposes per-incident administrative penalties of $250 / $500 / $1,000 plus public-safety cost recovery.
Outdoor smoking in Redding is governed primarily by California statewide laws. Health & Safety Code §104495 prohibits smoking within 25 feet of any playground or tot lot sandbox and within 250 feet of an active youth sports event. Smoking is prohibited at all California state park units and state beaches under SB 8 (2019). Redding may layer additional outdoor smoke-free zones at city parks under Title 12 or 14 of the Redding Municipal Code.
Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.28 (Solid Waste and Recycling) governs cart placement and storage for residents served by the City of Redding Solid Waste Utility — a city-operated department (not a private franchise). Carts must be placed for collection at the curb with the lid closed, spaced at least 3 feet apart and 6 feet from any obstacle (vehicle, mailbox, fence, basketball hoop) so the automated truck arm can reach them. Routes begin at 5:00 a.m., so carts should be at the curb by the night before. SB 1383 (Cal. Public Resources Code §42652+) governs container colors: gray for garbage, blue for recycling, green for organics.
Redding Municipal Code Chapter 1.15 (Abatement of Properties, Buildings, and Conditions) is the city's blight-abatement framework. It authorizes Code Enforcement to declare properties with accumulated trash, abandoned vehicles, overgrown vegetation, tall weeds, dead trees, graffiti, or deteriorated structures as public nuisances and to abate them at the owner's expense. California Health & Safety Code §17920.3 (substandard housing) supplies parallel state-law authority for habitability conditions, and unpaid abatement costs become a special assessment on the parcel.
Vacant lots and buildings in Redding are governed by Redding Municipal Code Chapter 1.15 (Abatement of Properties, Buildings, and Conditions), which treats overgrown weeds, dead vegetation, accumulated debris, and unsecured structures as public nuisances subject to abatement at the owner's expense. California Government Code §38773 separately authorizes any city to declare weeds a public nuisance and recover abatement costs as a special tax-roll assessment. Note: the 2025 Shasta County defensible-space ordinance applies only in the unincorporated county, not inside Redding city limits.
Redding has no codified snow-removal ordinance — measurable snowfall in the city core (elevation ~560 ft, Cfa/hot-summer Mediterranean climate) is rare. California Streets & Highways Code §5610 makes the adjacent property owner responsible for maintaining and repairing the sidewalk fronting their lot year-round, and Redding Municipal Code Chapter 1.15 (Abatement of Properties, Buildings, and Conditions) treats overgrown vegetation, debris, and tripping hazards on the sidewalk as nuisance conditions the owner must abate.
Yard waste in Redding must go in the green organics cart under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.28 (Solid Waste and Recycling) and California SB 1383 (Public Resources Code §42652+). The City of Redding Solid Waste Utility's green cart accepts grass, leaves, plant clippings, untreated wood waste, food scraps, and food-soiled paper. Open burning of yard debris is regulated by the Shasta County Air Quality Management District and CAL FIRE — outdoor burning generally requires a permit and a 'burn day' from SCAQMD.
Redding's automated collection requires precise cart placement under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.28 (Solid Waste and Recycling). The City of Redding Solid Waste Utility requires carts to be at the curb with the lid closed, spaced at least 3 feet apart and 6 feet from any obstacle (parked car, mailbox, fence, basketball hoop, light pole). Residential routes begin at 5:00 a.m., so carts should be set out the night before. Container colors follow SB 1383: gray garbage, blue recycling, green organics.
Bulk disposal in Redding runs through the City of Redding Solid Waste Utility's Special Pick-Up program: a $44.00 base trip fee plus per-item disposal cost, with a 24-hour advance scheduling requirement and a maximum of six items per location per trip. Items must be placed within six feet of the curb. Self-haul is also available at the Transfer Station at 2255 Abernathy Lane. Curbside dumping without a scheduled pickup is prosecutable under California Penal Code §374.3 (mandatory $250–$1,000 first-offense fine).
Illegal dumping in Redding is prosecuted under California Penal Code §374.3 (mandatory $250–$1,000 fine for a first offense; up to $3,000 third) and the Shasta County District Attorney's Environmental Crimes Unit. Commercial-quantity dumping is a misdemeanor under §374.3(h) with up to six months jail and $1,000–$3,000 fines (up to $10,000 for repeat commercial offenders). California Vehicle Code §23112.7 authorizes up to six-month vehicle impound for repeat offenders. Shasta County offers a $500 reward (1-866-61-TRASH) for information leading to conviction.
Redding operates a single-stream blue cart for recycling under Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.28 (Solid Waste and Recycling), administered by the City of Redding Solid Waste Utility. California AB 341 (Public Resources Code §42649+) requires businesses generating 4+ cubic yards/week to recycle; AB 1826 (PRC §42649.81+) extends the rule to commercial organics; SB 1383 (PRC §42652+) is the comprehensive residential and business organics mandate, with Redding resident enforcement that began in January 2024.
Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.28 (Solid Waste and Recycling) governs collection by the City of Redding Solid Waste Utility — a city-operated department (NOT a private franchise hauler like Recology). Residential service is once weekly with routes starting at 5:00 a.m. The system is a three-cart program: gray for trash, blue for single-stream recycling, green for SB 1383 organics. Resident organics enforcement began in January 2024.
Redding secondhand dealers and pawnbrokers are regulated primarily under California Business and Professions Code Chapter 9 (§§21625-21647) and the Financial Code's pawnbroker provisions. Dealers must obtain a state license through the Redding Police Department under BPC §21641, report every transaction to the California Pawn & Secondhand Dealer System (CAPSS) within one business day, and hold purchased property for 30 days before resale. A Redding Business License under RMC 6.02 is also required.
Redding tobacco retailers are licensed at the state level only - the city has not adopted a separate municipal tobacco retail license beyond the standard Business License required by Redding Municipal Code Chapter 6.02. California's Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act (Bus. & Prof. Code §22970 et seq.) requires every retailer to hold a CDTFA license, and California SB 793 / Proposition 31 (effective December 21, 2022) bans the sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide.
Redding has no local rent control ordinance. Rent in Redding is governed by California's statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1947.12), which caps annual rent increases on covered units at the lower of 5%+CPI or 10% per 12-month period. Single-family homes not owned by a corporation or REIT and housing built within the last 15 years are exempt. The Costa-Hawkins Rental Housing Act (Civil Code §1954.50) bars any local rent control on single-family homes and post-1995 construction.
Redding has no local just-cause ordinance, so the statewide Tenant Protection Act of 2019 (AB 1482, Civil Code §1946.2) controls. After 12 months of continuous occupancy, a landlord may terminate tenancy only for at-fault cause (non-payment, breach, nuisance) or no-fault cause (owner move-in, withdrawal from market, substantial remodel, government order). No-fault terminations require one month of rent as relocation assistance or waiver of the final month's rent.
Security deposits on Redding residential rentals are capped at one month's rent under California AB 12, effective July 1, 2024, codified at Civil Code §1950.5(c). Small landlords owning two or fewer properties with no more than four total units may charge up to two months' rent. Deposits must be returned within 21 days of move-out with an itemized statement of deductions.
Redding does not operate a citywide rental registration program. Most landlords need only a Redding business license under Redding Municipal Code Title 6 to lawfully operate. There is no annual rental-unit registry, no proactive code-inspection roster, and no published rent registry. Short-term rentals are separately regulated under Redding's STR ordinance.
Redding does not operate a proactive Rental Housing Inspection Program (RHIP). Habitability and code inspections of long-term rentals are complaint-driven, conducted by the Redding Development Services Department, Code Enforcement Division under Redding Municipal Code Title 8 and the California Building Standards Code. Tenants may also invoke state habitability remedies under Civil Code §1941.1 and §1942.
Food trucks in Redding need a Mobile Food Facility (MFF) permit from Shasta County Environmental Health under the California Retail Food Code (CalCode, Health & Safety Code §113700 et seq.), a Redding Business License under RMC Chapter 6.02, a California seller's permit, and zoning compliance for each operating location. Sidewalk food vending is protected statewide by SB 946 (the Safe Sidewalk Vending Act) at Government Code §51036 et seq.
Mobile food vending in Redding is governed by Shasta County Environmental Health permits (state Retail Food Code, Health & Safety Code §113700 et seq.), a Redding business license under Title 6, and the city's zoning rules in Redding Municipal Code Title 18. Sidewalk food vending statewide must be permitted on non-criminal terms under California's Safe Sidewalk Vending Act (SB 946, Gov. Code §51036–51039); Redding may restrict vending zones only to address objective health, safety, or welfare concerns.
Redding addresses pest-harboring property conditions through Redding Municipal Code Chapter 9.36 (Weed and Rubbish Abatement) and the property maintenance / nuisance provisions of the City Code. Structural pest-control work (termites, rodents, bed bugs) is performed by Structural Pest Control Board-licensed operators under California Title 16 / Business and Professions Code Division 3, Chapter 14. The Shasta Mosquito and Vector Control District handles vector-borne disease response.
Redding does not have its own lead-paint ordinance; lead-based paint compliance follows the federal Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act of 1992 (Title X) and the EPA Renovation, Repair, and Painting (RRP) Rule for pre-1978 housing, plus California Department of Public Health requirements administered by the Shasta County Health and Human Services Agency. Pre-1978 sale and lease disclosures are mandatory.
Redding requires automatic fire sprinklers in all new one- and two-family dwellings and townhouses under California Residential Code Section R313, adopted through Title 16 of the Redding Municipal Code, designed and installed to NFPA 13D as adopted in California. Multifamily and commercial buildings use NFPA 13R or NFPA 13. Existing exterior elevated elements on multifamily buildings are separately subject to California SB 326 and SB 721 balcony-inspection laws.
Recreational drone operation in Redding is governed primarily by federal FAA rules — 14 CFR Part 107 for commercial flight and 49 U.S.C. §44809 for recreational flight — which preempt most local airspace regulation. All drones over 0.55 lb must be registered with the FAA, fly under 400 feet AGL, and maintain visual line of sight. Redding Municipal Airport (RDD) and Benton Field require LAANC authorization or Part 107 waiver, and California Civil Code §1708.8 prohibits drone privacy intrusions.
Commercial drone operations in California follow uniform federal rules under 14 CFR Part 107 plus statewide California provisions in Civil Code 1708.8 and Public Utilities Code 21401, with local rules limited to ground-based regulation.
Building setbacks in Redding are set by the Zoning Ordinance (Redding Municipal Code Title 18), with site-development regulations for the principal residential districts in RMC §18.31.030. The three primary residential districts are RE (Residential Estate), RS (Residential Single-Family), and RM (Residential Multiple-Family). Front, side, and rear yard minimums are listed in the development standards tables for each district. Variances and minor exceptions are handled under RMC Chapter 18.15.
Building height limits in Redding are set by zoning district under Redding Municipal Code Title 18, with residential heights established in the development standards tables of RMC §18.31.030 and commercial / industrial heights in Chapters 18.32 and 18.33. Detached accessory structures generally must meet the same setbacks as the main building under §18.43.020, with adjusted setback rules for accessory structures 16 feet or less in height. Variances are processed under RMC Chapter 18.15.
Maximum lot coverage in Redding is set by zoning district under Redding Municipal Code Title 18, with residential coverage standards in the development tables of RMC §18.31.030. In the RM (Residential Multiple-Family) districts, lot coverage calculations explicitly include buildings, driveways, parking areas, and trash-enclosure areas — Schedule 18.31.030-D specifies the maximum allowable lot coverage in each RM district. Stormwater impacts on larger projects are reviewed under the City's MS4 program.
Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.17.020(D) caps residential garage and yard sales at three (3) sales in any twelve-month period, with each sale not exceeding three (3) consecutive days. Sales in excess of that limit are prohibited in all residential zones — no temporary use permit can be issued to exceed the cap on residential property. Sales held in commercial zones (rummage, secondhand, swap-meet style) are subject to a separate temporary use permit framework under Section 18.17.030.
No garage sale permit is required in Redding for ordinary residential sales. Redding Zoning Ordinance Section 18.17.020(D) lists garage and yard sales in residential zones as a temporary use exempt from any permit requirement — up to three (3) garage or yard sales in any twelve-month period, not exceeding three (3) consecutive days each, are deemed a use incidental to the residential use of the property. Garage or yard sales in excess of that limit are prohibited in all residential zones.
Redding regulates floodplain development through the 'FP' Floodplain Overlay District in Zoning Code Chapter 18.51, which adopts by reference the FEMA Flood Insurance Study for Shasta County and Incorporated Areas dated December 16, 2021 plus the City's Citywide Storm Drain Master Plan. Section 18.51.080 requires the lowest floor of new or substantially-improved residential structures in Zones A, AE, AO, or A1-30 to sit at least one foot above the Base Flood Elevation. The overlay applies most heavily along the Sacramento River and creeks like Clear Creek, Cow Creek, Stillwater Creek, and Churn Creek.
Redding regulates stormwater under Municipal Code Title 14, Chapter 14.19 (Storm Water Ordinance), implementing the State Water Resources Control Board's Phase II Small MS4 General Permit (Order WQ 2013-0001-DWQ, as amended) issued under the federal Clean Water Act and California's Porter-Cologne Water Quality Control Act (Water Code §13000 et seq.). The City lies entirely in the Sacramento River watershed and any project creating or replacing 2,500 sq ft or more of impervious surface must implement post-construction BMPs from the City's Post-Construction Standards Plan.
The California Coastal Act, Public Resources Code sections 30000 through 30900, requires Coastal Development Permits for nearly all work in the coastal zone and gives the Coastal Commission appeal jurisdiction over local decisions.
Tree-removal permits in Redding are issued by Development Services - Planning under RMC Chapter 18.45 (Tree Management). Any tree exceeding 6 inches DBH on developed or undeveloped property within the City requires a permit before being destroyed, killed, or removed (RMC §18.45.030), with limited exemptions under §18.45.040 (dead, dying, hazardous, and certain fruit/orchard species) and a discretionary path for development-related removals under §18.45.070. The ordinance was updated in 2006 and reviewed by a Council-appointed committee in 2023.
Redding does not maintain a dedicated standalone heritage-tree registry, but RMC Chapter 18.45 (Tree Management) protects all trees over 6 inches DBH on any property within the city, providing strong default protection. The Tree Management Ordinance Update Committee convened by City Council in September 2022 reviewed heritage-tree-specific protections through May 2023. Notable mature tree resources in Redding include the Sacramento River Trail corridor, Caldwell Park, and the McConnell Arboretum at Turtle Bay Exploration Park.
Tree replacement in Redding is administered through RMC Chapter 18.45 (Tree Management) as the mitigation condition attached to tree-removal permits and discretionary entitlements under §18.45.070. Mitigation typically consists of designation of preserved trees and/or planting of new trees on-site, with the Comprehensive Tree Plan 2024 providing City policy guidance on canopy goals. Street tree replacement is handled by Public Works under RMC Title 13, Chapter 13.40 for trees in the public right-of-way.
Small residential rooftop solar PV systems receive expedited, streamlined review under California AB 2188 (Cal. Gov. Code §65850.5). The California Solar Rights Act (Civil Code §714) makes any rule that effectively prohibits or significantly restricts a solar system void and unenforceable.
Civil Code section 714 voids HOA covenants and rules that prohibit or unreasonably restrict residential solar energy systems, preempting private and local restrictions.
California sets a statewide minimum wage floor under Labor Code 1182.12, currently $16.50 per hour for all employers as of 2025. Local governments are not preempted and may set higher minimums; many cities exceed the state rate substantially.
California's Healthy Workplaces, Healthy Families Act under Labor Code 245-249 mandates paid sick leave for nearly all employees statewide. SB 616 (2023) raised the minimum to 40 hours or five days annually effective January 2024, applying universally.
California regulates concealed carry weapons licenses statewide under Penal Code 26150 through 26225. Senate Bill 2 (2023) imposes uniform sensitive-place restrictions and applicant standards, preempting local variations on issuance criteria and qualifications.
California preempts most local firearm regulation under Government Code 53071 and Penal Code 25605, reserving licensing, registration, and manufacture authority to the state. However, local governments retain limited authority over discharge, sensitive places, and zoning of gun businesses.
California broadly prohibits open carry of firearms statewide under Penal Code 25850 (loaded firearms in public) and Penal Code 26350 (open carry of unloaded handguns). The prohibition applies uniformly across all California cities and counties without local variation.
California prohibits carrying loaded firearms in vehicles statewide under Penal Code 25400 and 25850. Unloaded handguns transported in private vehicles must be in a locked container or the vehicle's locked trunk; long guns must be unloaded but need not be locked.
California prohibits state and local governments from requiring private employers to use the federal E-Verify system except where federal law mandates it, under Government Code 7285.1 and 7285.3. The restriction applies uniformly to every California city and county.
The California Values Act (SB 54, 2017) codified at Government Code 7284-7284.12 limits state and local law enforcement cooperation with federal immigration authorities. It applies uniformly to every California agency and bars participation in most civil immigration enforcement.
The California Land Conservation Act of 1965 (Williamson Act), Government Code 51200-51297.4, allows landowners to enter contracts with counties restricting land to agricultural use for ten-year minimum terms in exchange for reduced property tax assessment based on farming income.
The California Right to Farm Act under Civil Code 3482.5 protects established agricultural operations from nuisance lawsuits brought by neighbors who moved in after farming began. The law applies statewide and limits both private and local government nuisance actions.
California prohibits grocery stores and large retailers from providing single-use plastic carryout bags under Public Resources Code 42280-42288, enacted by SB 270 (2014) and ratified as Proposition 67 in 2016. Recycled paper or reusable bags require a 10-cent minimum charge.
California restricts expanded polystyrene food containers statewide through SB 54 (2022) packaging requirements under Public Resources Code 42040-42081. The law mandates that polystyrene foodware achieve 25 percent recycling by 2025 or face statewide sales prohibition.
California Public Resources Code 42270-42273, enacted by AB 1884 (2018), prohibits full-service restaurants from providing single-use plastic straws unless requested by the customer. The on-request rule applies uniformly to dine-in restaurants statewide.
California prohibits sale of tobacco and vapor products to anyone under 21 statewide under Business and Professions Code 22958, enacted by SBX2-7 in 2016. The Tobacco 21 standard applies uniformly across all California jurisdictions.
California bans retail sale of most flavored tobacco products statewide under Health and Safety Code 104559.5, enacted by SB 793 (2020) and upheld by voters via Proposition 31 in November 2022. The ban applies uniformly to all California retailers.
California requires statewide licensing of tobacco and vape retailers under the STAKE Act and the Cigarette and Tobacco Products Licensing Act. Business and Professions Code 22970 establishes uniform retailer licensing, while local governments may adopt stricter rules.